Hard hats are among the most commonly worn personal protective equipment for good reason: they protect our most valuable assets, our heads. Nonetheless, head injuries make up a significant number of occupational injuries requiring days away from work. In fact, head injuries accounted for more than 73,000 of the 1.1 million workplace injuries requiring at least one day away from work in 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational head injuries range from minor bumps to concussions or even severe trauma to the head, which can result in death. Furthermore, any level of head injury suffered by a worker can cause significant direct and indirect expenses to a company.
For these reasons, it is important that safety managers be aware of the variety of hard hats and related features available as well as their proper use and care. This article looks at the top six considerations for selecting and maintaining head protection that will properly protect workers in any industry.